I spent $30 on gas yesterday(got $10 in the morning and had to come back for more in the evening! Will sure be glad when I can get back to filling up!) and $5 on lunch. I had to buy a veggie plate and a large cookie for end of year party for cheerleading...total of $18. So yesterday was a pricey day. The grand total was $53. Wow. That leaves me a little over a dollar short in my account.
I got breakfast again this morning. I am kind of caught in a vicious cycle. I don't have the money to go to the grocery store, but I don't have the money to eat out either. It seems easier to spend a little each day instead of trying to go to the grocery store to prevent that! I need to make some adjustments to my budget for this week to be able to go to the store. Don't know how I will pull that one off!
Yesterday's Spending
April 21st, 2009 at 02:46 pm
April 22nd, 2009 at 08:25 pm 1240431941
With that in mind I'm going to give you unsolicited advice as if you were my sister, someone that I love to death, but could use some direction.
I know that you've realized that you shouldn't have bought the car. You'll have to develop some sort of system to keep the 'spur of the moment' purchases from happening. Maybe open up an on-line account (I like ING Direct) and move your savings account over to it. You have to wait a couple of days for the money to show up in your account after a transfer so you would have time to rethink things.
But the real thing is that you have got to stop spending money. I cannot tell, but it seems as if you have credit cards that are still over the limit. If that's the case, your savings account should be for emergencies only. If you'd like I would be happy to create a spreadsheet for you so that you could easily see how much you're spending on interest for the credit cards and such. If you paid those off then you could keep all of that money for your family and for fun things. Putting off paying the credit cards for a vacation is just going to prolong the agony of being short on cash.
Finally, stop going out to eat for breakfast and such. You don't have to drop a lot of money at the grocery store every time you go. Or, let me rephrase that, if you are spending a lot of money every time you go to the store you might be wasting money. After work, go to the store and get a loaf of bread and some peanut butter and honey. Make some toast and put the other two things on it. It'll be about $7 and the peanut butter and honey will last at least a couple of months.
If you've gotten this far know that I care about you and your well being. I'm not typing this up to be nasty or to make you feel bad. Actually, I should be working on my PhD thesis, but I couldn't without trying to help. I know people have recommended books to you before. I'd be happy to send you a couple if you'd like.
April 26th, 2009 at 09:26 pm 1240781188
As far as the spur of the moment purchases, I don't know that they are spur of the moment. I waited 3 days to purchase this car. It is more like an OCD thing. I get something in my head and can't stop until I do it. It is not limited to spending...it includes craft projects and cleaning as well. I am working on trying to control that as well.
Thanks again for the advice. Any help would be appreciated. That is why I blog...for help.